75% of Sunscreens are Toxic: What to do Instead

More than 2 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer every year. And even though more and more people are using sunscreen each year, the incidence of skin cancer continues to climb world wide.

It’s that time of year where we all start enjoying the weather outside, but did you know that 4 different studies conducted in the 1990’s indicated a higher risk of malignant melanoma among individuals who used the most sunscreen!

Several years ago when I started revealing the dangers of sunscreen many people were surprised. But over the past 5 years more research is starting to come out about the dangers of sunscreen.

Sunscreens are Toxic

Now I’m not telling you never to wear sunscreen! Sometimes, you should wear sunscreen (more on that later). But first, I want to share with you the benefits of not wearing sunscreen for a portion of the day and also let you know what brands are toxic-free and safe for you and your family, and where you can get them.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) just published their 2014 guide to safe sunscreens. They reviewed over 2000 sunscreens and over 257 brands. They found more than 75% of the sunscreens contained toxic chemicals that can increase your risk of cancer and other health issues.

The Dangers of Conventional Sunscreens According to research from the EWG: Our review…shows that some sunscreen ingredients absorb into the blood, and some have toxic effects. Some release skin-damaging free radicals in sunlight, some act like estrogen and disrupt hormones, and several can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation. The FDA has not established rigorous safety standards for sunscreen ingredients. Sunscreens haven’t been regulated since 1978 in the USA, and the SPF factor only tells you how effective a sunscreen is against UVB rays which cause sunburn.

So in review, some ingredients may

Absorb into the blood

Release free radicals in sunlight

Act like estrogen

Disrupt hormones

Cause allergic reactions

Cause skin irritation

Have no rigorous safety standards

A recent study published in Environmental Science Technology has also shown the common sunscreen ingredients oxybenzone, methoxycinnamate, and PABA are estrogenic chemicals linked to cancer. That’s right, I read the labels on not only my food products, but on anything I’m putting on or near my body, and you should too. If your sunscreen contains any of these chemicals I’d throw it away right now!

List of Unsafe, Toxic Chemicals in Sunscreen

Para amino benzoic acid

Octyl salicyclate

Oxybenzone

Cinoxate

Dioxybenzone

Phenylbenzimidazole

Homosalate

Menthyl anthranilate

Octocrylene

Methoxycinnamate

Parabens

Stay away from these chemicals and use the natural sunscreens I recommend at the end of the article.

The Sun Doesn’t Cause Cancer In truth, the sun is essential for your health. Think about it. Without the sun, most plants couldn’t grow and we would perish from a lack of Vitamin D3.

Of course, you can have too much of a good thing. I don’t recommend letting your skin burn, and this is a common point people miss. Getting a moderate amount of sunshine daily can actually help decrease your risk of certain types of cancers.

The Sun is your best source of Vitamin D3. When you get approximately 20 minutes of direct sunlight, your body naturally generates enough Vitamin D3 (Calciferol), and you body also knows the right amount to generate without overdose.

Vitamin D3 has been one of the most researched nutrients over the past 5 years and it has been shown to naturally help boost the immune system, help fight cancer and improve mood.

There are two types of sunscreens: non-mineral and mineral. And some that combine both.

Non-mineral sunscreens penetrate the skin, are potentially disruptive to hormones, are allergenic, and like I mentioned earlier, can release free radicals when they break down. Oxybenzone is the most common ingredient found in sunscreens. Scientists recommend not using sunscreens containing oxybenzone on children because of this hormone disruption.

Mineral sunscreens are ones containing zinc, or titanium. These do not breakdown in sunlight, are not usually absorbed ( so do not disrupt the body’s hormones), are not allergenic and are more effective at blocking UVA rays than non-minerals. These sunscreens are a good choice for children and according to EWG have the best safety profiles of the choices in the United States.

What I Use

Kiss My Face SPF 30

What Natural Sunscreens to Buy

The best sunscreen is a hat and a shirt. No chemicals for the skin to absorb, no questions about whether the product works and no bogus claims like “sunblock.” (No conventional product blocks out all rays. Which is why the FDA is trying to ban the term.)

When buying sunscreen I’d first check the EWG database. The healthier sunscreens contain Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide as a more natural form of sunblock. However even these ingredients aren’t flawless as you’ll see in the EWG ratings system.

Foods and Supplements that Protect Your Skin

According to the American Cancer Society, oxidative damage can increase your cancer risk, so I recommend eating a diet high in certain foods which can potentially decrease your risk.

Actions Steps 1. Get 20+ minutes of sunshine daily 2. Cover up with light clothing before you get burnt 3. Wear natural sunscreen if you’re going to stay out for a long period of time 4. Eat a diet high in anti-oxidants to protect your skin 5. If you get burnt, use a mixture of aloe, coconut oil and vitamin E on your skin

So what are your thoughts on Sunscreen and the Sun? I’d love to hear them in the comments below.

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Dr. Axe, after reading this article and one of your others on sunscreen products, I went on line and ordered 3 Kiss My Face products. For the face, the stick and the spray. When they arrived, I looked at the ingredients and it had 5 of the 14 toxic ingredients on your list. I wasted a lot of money and am very disappointed. I trusted your advice.

Sorry about that. This article is older and that brand has updated their formulations since this was written. At this point, it’s very hard to find one that is entirely “whole” in its ingredients. I make my own with this recipe: https://draxe.com/homemade-sunscreen/

I live on the SW Gulf Coast of Florida where the intensity of the sun is serious business. I am 100% English in descent and am very fair – a recipe for skin disaster. All we’ve heard for years is that we need to get that sunscreen on. A “shot glass full” supposedly being the right amount for all-over skin “safety”. Common sense kicked in and I questioned if putting that glop thickly all over my body every day – often more than once a day – might be a bad idea. I came here during my research. My suspicions are confirmed.

As far as the FDA is concerned: follow the money! The FDA is in bed with the pharmaceutical companies and most everyone knows it. MD’s are often the last people to find out things. We need our MD’s but not for everything. We MUST be responsible for our own health, period. Do not rely on anyone (except yourself) or any entity to protect you and your family. “Believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see”. The stakes are too high to do otherwise.

I will not stay in Florida. For me it’s a full time job not to become burned. I use wide-brimmed hats and an umbrella (parasol!) to help protect myself. Now I will need to reassess when and which sunscreen I will use.

Btw, since I have begun taking substantial vitamin C supplements I no longer get the miserable burns I used to. Vitamin C is another (important) antioxidant nutrient and free radical scavenger. It is cheap and has been a huge help in protecting my skin. It must be taken in the same fashion as one takes an antibiotic in order to keep serum levels at theraputic levels.

I checked the two moisturizers I use on a regular basis and one has the ingredient Oxybenzone which I intend to throw away and the other moisturizer contains two sunscreen ingredients. One is Zinc Oxide (good) and the other is Octinoxate which I don’t see on the list of bad sunscreens. Is this a bad or a good sunscreen?

I’m not a huge fun of it. Octinoxate can potentially produce free radicals which can lead to increased skin damage and premature aging. It can disrupt hormones and studies have also shown that it has been present in breast milk, blood and urine when applied topically which means it one is systemically exposed to the ingredient when it is used.

I’m an Associate Producer on The Doctors TV show, and we are going to be discussing the advantages and disadvantages of sunscreen in our upcoming show on August 7th. We are interested in speaking with you for the show. Can you please give me a call at 323-956-8653 to discuss the possibilities?

I’m trying to mix my own homemade sunscreen for myself, and I’m really on the fence about adding zinc oxid or titanium dioxide. I burn very easily and I’m wondering if there is a more natural alternative. Will the natural spf in oils like coconut, olive, or sesame seed etc..work on their own

Stella, Didn’t mean to mislead. I know the sun is good for you and I enjoy being in the sun. What I meant is for the time I am in the sun, for example at the beach, there are occasions when a shirt and hat are not possible. Riding the waves make is difficult to wear a hat and 30 SPF does not protect my face enough. Also, I need sunscreen on my feet and, again, 30 is not enough. What is a good sunscreen with a highe SPF?

Dr. Axe, the chiropractor, has NO idea what he’s talking about. I just went to the AAD national meeting this spring. There’s no evidence of sunscreen safety issues to date direct from the Derm working with the FDA on sunscreen re-labelling. I still use it, my family does, etc. Until I hear info to the contrary, I am not going to change that. I personally rely more on avoidance, shade, and protective clothing. But on any exposed areas, I use SPF 70-100.

“Vitamin D intake may not lower cancer mortality. • While some studies have suggested that vitamin D can reduce deaths from cancer and/or improve cancer survival, other studies have not been able to confirm these observations. • The National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that the evidence for associating vitamin D status with health benefits other than bone health was inconsistent, inconclusive as to causality, and insufficient to inform nutritional requirement. • Based on currently available scientific evidence that supports a key role of calcium and vitamin D in skeletal health, the IOM Recommended Dietary Allowance* (RDA) for vitamin D is: • 400 IU (International Units) for Infants/Children 0-1 yr • 600 IU for children, teenagers and adults 1-70 yr • 800 IU for adults 71+ yr * The RDA is intake that covers needs of 97.5% of the healthy normal population. •Because the amount of vitamin D a person receives from the sun is inconsistent and increases the risk of skin cancer, the IOM’s RDA was developed based on a person receiving minimal or no sun exposure.”

Who are you to comment on the intelligence of another? Or to make lofty statements without looking for evidence?

“There’s no evidence of sunscreen safety issues to date direct from the Derm working with the FDA on sunscreen re-labelling”

1.) Does evidence have to come DIRECTLY from the Derm who are working with the FDA? I believe there are still other reputable journals who can study the effects of toxins in humans. 2.) I believe I have found some things you have missed.

SCCNFP (Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products). 2001. Opinion on the Evaluation of Potentially Estrogenic Effects of UV-filters adopted by the SCCNFP during the 17th Plenary meeting of 12 June 2001. Opinion: European Commission – The Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products Intended for Consumers.

Oh no… Dr. Axe, my comment was not in reference to your article, but the comment made by “Dr S”… Maybe I tagged my comment wrong, oops. No I 100% aggree with you, and the articles I posted were further evidence in support of your findings. I was questioning “Dr S” on his apparent faith in the FDA, and his outlandish statements insulting your intelligence. As we can see, your work is well supported. Looks like he now has a lot of articles to go through.

I’m sorry but the FDA is wrong about many things. One example would be when they approved the drug Vioxx and it killed 60,000 people. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has does extension research to back my article and you can see the references below.

“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” – Arthur Schopenhauer

Huncharek M, Kupelnick B. 2002. Use of topical sunscreens and the risk of malignant melanoma: a meta-analysis of 9067 patients from 11 case-control studies. American Journal of Public Health 92(7): 1173-7.

Rachon D, Rimoldi G, Wuttke W. 2006. In vitro effects of benzophenone-2 and octyl-methoxycinnamate on the production of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 by murine splenocytes. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 28(3): 501-10.

While I can appreciate that you have done research yourself on this subject, I personally feel Dr. Axe has been helpful to many and does know what he is talking about. Let’s keep our post to information not people bashing. Thank you. Also, I am grateful to know that I am using safe ingredients on my children vs chemicals that I may never know all the long term effects. There are enough studies on the chemical change to food and what it’s doing for our health. What makes these chemicals safe to rub into our skin? I’m grateful that Dr. Axe helps out with sharing a more natural approach. I also would be careful in “believing” everything the FDA says. They are not always looking out for your best interest. It can be more about $$

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.